{"id":19806,"date":"2026-03-20T20:38:59","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T20:38:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dressagetoday.com\/?p=19806"},"modified":"2026-03-20T22:48:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T22:48:47","slug":"creative-cavalletti-for-improved-balance-rhythm-and-gait-quality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dressagetoday.com\/instruction\/how-to\/creative-cavalletti-for-improved-balance-rhythm-and-gait-quality\/","title":{"rendered":"Creative Cavalletti for Improved Balance, Rhythm and Gait Quality"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ground poles and cavalletti are one of the most versatile but often overlooked training tools that serve to improve your dressage horse\u2019s strength, rhythm, tempo and connection. After running monthly cavalletti clinics at my farm for dressage riders of all levels, I\u2019ve found that simple cavalletti exercises also promote better balance and self-carriage, improved gait quality and an overall more attentive, athletic horse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, I\u2019ll explain how to set up and ride several exercises on a pattern that includes four sets of five cavalletti and a ground-pole box and offer troubleshooting tips to help you and your dressage horse successfully navigate the work over poles. We’ll also look at several videos of my students riding the exercises to help you better understand how to ride them so you can start incorporating cavalletti work into your dressage horse’s training routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Equipment and Setting Up Your Cavalletti\/Ground Pole Exercises<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Select quality materials:<\/strong> For cavalletti work, the quality of your poles and risers matters more than you might think. I recommend using heavyweight poles and solid risers; avoid lightweight PVC poles that will easily tip or roll. Solid-wood poles and cast or poured-plastic risers that are sturdy enough to withstand a strike without breaking work well and are important for horse and rider safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Setup:<\/strong> Here, I\u2019m going to explain how to set up a more complex cavalletti and ground-pole pattern, but if you don\u2019t have enough poles to build the entire exercise, you can easily set up modified versions with just a ground-pole box and one or two cavalletti sets. If you\u2019re new to cavalletti work, it might be best to start by practicing in smaller sections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Setup for the cavalletti and ground-pole box<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For these exercises, you\u2019ll need:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • 24 solid, heavyweight poles (at least four of which are 12 feet long\u2014the rest can be anywhere between 8 and 12 feet).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • More advanced riders will also need 12 pairs of solid, unbreakable risers that can lift poles approximately 8 inches off the ground.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    To set the pattern:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    • Build a square box in the middle of your arena out of the four 12-foot poles. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Perpendicular to each of the box\u2019s corners, build a set of cavalletti out of five parallel poles. Space the cavalletti between 4 and 4\u00bd feet apart. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Place the poles that are closest to the corners of the box about 8\u00bd feet from it. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      Trotting the Box and Box Figure Eight<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      After doing your regular warm up at all three gaits, introduce your horse to the poles by simply trotting through the ground-pole box. Since we\u2019ve set the box to be 12 feet across, he\u2019ll have plenty of room to take whatever number of steps feels natural for him and will start to figure out where to place his feet to easily navigate the poles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n